Echoes of Childhood Emotional Neglect and Unveiling the Long-Lasting Impact on Adult Interpersonal Trust

Abstract

This study investigated the relationship between childhood emotional neglect and adult interpersonal trust, with a particular focus on gendered patterns within the Pakistani cultural context. Guided by attachment theory (Bowlby, 1988) and contemporary models of trust development (Mikulincer & Shaver, 2016; Rotenberg, 2010), it was hypothesized that neglect would undermine trust, particularly in relational domains requiring vulnerability. Data were collected from 154 university students in Karachi, Pakistan, and analyzed using Pearson correlations and regression models. Results indicated that childhood emotional neglect was not significantly associated with adult interpersonal trust in the overall sample (r = –.003, p = .969; R² = .000, F(1,152) = 0.002, p = .969). Gender-specific analyses revealed nuanced but non-significant trends: males demonstrated a weak positive association between neglect and trust (r = .117, p = .415), while females demonstrated a weak negative association (r = –.046, p = .645). Residual diagnostics confirmed that regression assumptions were satisfied, suggesting that the null findings were substantive rather than methodological artifacts. These results highlight the importance of situating psychological constructs within sociocultural frameworks. In Pakistan, interpersonal trust is not solely a product of early caregiving but is reinforced by collectivist norms emphasizing family loyalty, communal interdependence, and relational harmony (Hussain, 1999; Qadir, de Silva, Prince, & Khan, 2005). Gendered socialization further shaped outcomes: males, encouraged toward independence and resilience, may outwardly report higher trust as a performance of strength (Vandello & Bosson, 2013), while females, socialized toward relational sensitivity and emotional expressiveness, may experience neglect as a relational wound but remain constrained by cultural imperatives to preserve family honor and harmony (Ali et al., 2011). The findings suggest that the echoes of neglect manifest differently across gendered social roles, with cultural expectations buffering or reshaping the anticipated negative associations. This research contributes to the growing literature on attachment and trust by demonstrating that the relationship between neglect and trust is not universal but culturally contingent. It underscores the need for culturally sensitive models of attachment and trust, particularly in collectivist societies where gender norms and cultural imperatives profoundly shape psychological outcomes. Future research should employ domain-specific trust measures and longitudinal designs to capture the nuanced ways in which neglect influences trust trajectories in Pakistan and comparable cultural contexts.